Protesters confront M4 drilling crew

Opponents of the Roads and Traffic Authority's (RTA) M4-east tunnel at Haberfield in Sydney's inner-west have confronted a drilling crew that planned to take test samples for the project.

The Greens say the residents and local council have a big job ahead to overturn the motorway extension.

Ashfield Mayor Rae Jones joined residents at Dobroyd Parade in Haberfield this morning to reinforce the message from a council ranger that the drilling crew did not have the council's permission for its test.

With police watching, a stand-off continued through the day with residents and council officers making sure the drilling crew did not begin work.

The Greens' Lee Rhiannon joined the protest but says it will be a first if the Haberfield residents are able to defeat the RTA's plans.

"We need to bring some sanity to this whole motorway debate, it's not the way to have a livable city," she said.

The RTA says the testing will provide information to help the community comment on the tunnel plans.